THIS WEEK’S MILESTONES

March 1, 1937

Davao was inaugurated as a city, five months after its charter was signed into law by then President Manuel Quezon. Then Interior Secretary Elpidio Quirino represented the President, who was in the United States, in the ceremony. Araw ng Dabaw, the city’s founding anniversary celebration, was originally held every March 16, but was moved to March 1 of every year after President Duterte signed Republic Act No. 11379, in 2019. Davao, formerly known as Nueva Vergara, was a major producer of export products, such as abaca, copra and lumber, in the early 1900s and has since become the economic hub of Mindanao.

March 1, 2016

The town of Enrile in Cagayan province was declared the “peanut capital of the Philippines” by then Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala through an administrative order. It was in response to a 2015 Sangguniang Bayan resolution that lobbied for the declaration. Enrile produces peanuts, a high-value crop, all year-round, representing 8 percent to 10 percent of the total national domestic supply or an equivalent of about 1,800 metric tons yearly. Of the town’s 13,296 hectares of agricultural land, 700 ha, or about 5 percent, are allotted to peanut production. In 2019, the regional office of the Department of Agriculture announced the plan to build an agricommercial investment complex for peanut production.

March 1, 2020

The local government of Bani in Pangasinan province started its implementation of an ordinance that bans single-use plastics and Styrofoam products in the municipality. Passed in 2018, the ordinance prohibits the use of plastics that end up as residual waste. It also encourages the use of reusable bags, such as cloth or woven bags, baskets and other ecofriendly bags to reduce plastic waste collection from households and establishments. Individuals who violate the ordinance will be fined up to P500, or imprisoned for one month, while business establishments who violate the ordinance will be fined up to P2,500 and may face cancellation of business permit.

March 2, 1850

The province of La Union was established with the signing of Superior Decreto by then Governor General Antonio Maria Blanco. The decree was approved four years later by Queen Isabela II. Since then, March 2 is celebrated as La Union’s founding day. The geographical composition of La Union was carved from certain areas in the provinces of Pangasinan, Ilocos Sur and villages in the Cordillera region. The province of more than 790,000 is a favorite summer destination and dubbed the “surfing capital of the North.” Aside from tourism, La Union is also known for producing basi (sugarcane wine), handwoven blankets, baskets and wood furniture. Canceled events: Due to the national public health emergency in relation to the new coronavirus disease, the Nangkaan Festival in Maigo, Lanao del Norte province; the Iloko-Tingguian Festival in Abra province; Pasundayag Festival in Banga, South Cotabato province; and the Bulawan Festival in Compostela Valley, scheduled between Feb. 28 and March 6, have been canceled by the local governments concerned. Compiled by Kathleen de Villa, Inquirer Research Sources: Inquirer Archives, officialgazette.gov.ph, davaocity.gov.ph, launion.gov.ph, psa.gov.ph, pia.gov.ph, congress.gov.ph, da.gov.ph